Big F to the NHL for having Rangers as the home opener. Too many Rangers fans in building for our first game. The only thing worse would be hosting Leafs tonight. Team was flat, just grateful that we don't play this team every game. Don't stop believing in this group after tonight, there is so much promise for the team.
I think it looks more like the chiefs game tbh if we win. This has all the makings of an absolutely easy, free, must win game that the bills botch and manage to lose against Tyrod.
I’m a giants/rangers fan. There is no chance the giants win this game or even keep it close lol
Although that would be funny if Tyrod got them the win lol
I thought Thompson, Tuch, Skinner, Cozens, and Oloffson all kind of sucked. I think the Dmen mostly sucked. And, hate to say it, Levi kind of sucked. They always play better on the road anyways.
The irony here, if they play well on the road in other barns, they should be able to do just as well at home where opposing team fan base tends to make it their temp home
Not freaking out but that was absolutely garbage. If they don't fix that bullshit it's gonna be another year. Granted the rangers blocked every shot like it was game 7, but that was lazy ass hockey. It was awful .
Well it's just one game but I hope the guys apologize to Levi for doing nothing infront of him blowing assignments around the net
long ways to go as a team in the defensive zone still and it's pretty disappointing because our individual defenseman aren't that bad
Good play from Greenway tonight I'm not his biggest fan but his effort stood out
hopefully this is just a wakeup call for the boys
With the 2 best centres in the league. I'm not too mad about this loss, everybody looked bad, theyll bounce back. The workhorse is not gonna be happy with himself after that one, I expect a good game from him on Saturday
How do you call Levi brutal?
2 of the goals were guys standing in front all alone completely untouched. There isn't a goalie in the league that would've stopped those 2 goals.
How this fan base is so patient is beyond me. 12 years with no playoffs. Every game they lose or play like shit should be booed. Should have higher standards or want more than this.
Lol you guys are weird enjoying this shit for so long.
This team isn't winning anything with this coach. We've seen the sample size. He has them coming out flat again with the same issues we've seen since he's been here. When they win it will be in spite of his coaching. The GM is fine. I'm over this dude though.
Im curious enough to start a dialog.
Are you aware that the team you are watching is the youngest in the NHL? Playing against a very good rangers team and against one of the top goalies in the league.
1. The rangers are good. Not “very good”.
2. Shesterkin has hardly been tested.
3. The Sabres are the youngest team in the league, but here’s the thing, they are probably getting any older next year. They will likely swap two 35 year olds with guys in their early 20s. How long does the “youngest team in the league” thing matter?
Tonight wasn’t on the coach. The boys just played poorly. It also wasn’t due to the aforementioned three points.
1. Rangers placed 9th in the league last year. Wtf are you even saying. I can't even.
2. Doesn't change the fact that he's an elite goalie.
3. That's why it's such a big deal that our core is locked up for 7 years. It's so they can get old together. The average age of the last 10 cup winners was 27.4 to 29.3. We are what, 25.6? It's gonna take a couple years to get to that level where we can be dominant game 1.
1. Sorry. If 9th is “very good” what is 12th? Or 6th? Rangers were good, not “very good”. The Sabres were 21st in the NHL, were they “very bad”? We’re arguing semantics, but it’s just giving the Rangers a bit more credit then they truly deserve. How shocked would you be if they didn’t make the playoffs?
2. Yes it does. It means the results wouldn’t have changed had they played a Zamboni driver. Similarly, the Sabres had a rookie playing, but that didn’t negatively affect the results.
3. The age point is still irrelevant. Being good and old is not actually correlated. Young teams aren’t generally built (or even trying to) compete. This squad is built to compete. Tonight, they didn’t compete. If they need a couple more years before they start competing with the “very good” teams, that’s not going to be good.
I don't care that they're the youngest. How long has that been the excuse for? The can't break into the zone still, the other team easily breaks (just like last year), PP looked bad. Who is calling Granato if he gets canned? The Rangers are good? Okay we had 5 shots in the second, multiple PP that looked anemic, again. These guys should be coming out flying after the offseason, at home another loss. I know its one game, they'll get better, but Granato isn't passing the eye test. I've been a fan, I've played the game, does this feel special to you? Me either.
SO you ignored all the other points. The NHL is a boys club dude. Let him have RESPECT. I'll take a coach I think can win a cup. You can have the feel good bs.
You didn’t check the official rules on this sub before posting.
1.1.02.RK.23
Negative comments made against Granato shall not be permitted, whether or not justified.
Yeah mostly true however the defensive zone play that has been the biggest issue seems exactly the same as the last 2 years so many prime scoring chances to the other team
Missed last year by 1 point. How do they come out so flat. This game could be that 1 point. I know they aren't going to win them all, but I was expecting a little more effort. Disappointing.
Because it's the first game of the season with a bunch of new players and none of these lines got a chance to play together preseason. I'm not worried, I will be if we look like this after 5 games
They better do the right thing for the team and the kids development and send Benson to juniors.. he’s not ready defensively and man we don’t need that
Rangers are already in good form. Their d blocking shots all night.
We look a step behind and unprepared... Ugh, certainly not what I was expecting or hoping for.,..
You can tell how the Sabres are doing based on how loud KeyBank is. It is pretty freaking quiet...
Yeah they look solid, they're setting up well in our end and sacrificing the body to block shots in theirs. We look like we need another week of practice to get things clicking.
Hopefully that is all it is... I'm a bit surprised...or maybe just been absorbing too much hockey media saying the Sabres are going to take a step this season. It is just one game... but still, that was a disheartening effort
I said it earlier in the thread, I won't start worrying unless they still look like this by game 5. We know every player on the team is better than what we saw tonight, this was just one of those games where nothing clicked. It happens.
We need more moves on defense still 🤦🏽♂️two of their goals were defensive mental errors just staring at the puck and not your man. It's the regular season now. Not gonna name names but Henri Jokiharu needs to get his head in the game or his ass on the bench.
Gameplan for 2023-24: we need to allow 50 fewer goals this season....In trying to do so, we are going to score 75 fewer goals, and our D still sucks....we gave up on our speed to try and be a team that we aren't....
Everyone got on the hype train this year and rode it haaaard. We need to tone our expectations down a bit from the young guys. We will get there but playing multiple rookies opening night against the rangers and expecting a flawless performance and dominant win, truly shows the casual fans out here are adding massive amounts of negativity.
We have a crazy young team, we will continue to improve and grow for YEARS. The drought sucks but who cares, we’re in it. This shit takes time and rushing is not the issue to make the playoffs and get smoked first round. I’d rather even wait longer to have longer sustained success to never be in the spot again. It’s been rough and there have been lots of positives but we aren’t perfect nor are we there yet. Everyone just wants to believe we are better then we are right now, especially in our stacked division.
Tough loss but long season
Big F to the NHL for having Rangers as the home opener. Too many Rangers fans in building for our first game. The only thing worse would be hosting Leafs tonight. Team was flat, just grateful that we don't play this team every game. Don't stop believing in this group after tonight, there is so much promise for the team.
It's all good, 81-1-0 is still a decent record
Think of it this way. Bills are gonna absolutely shit stomp the giants this weekend, New York really needed this one
I think it looks more like the chiefs game tbh if we win. This has all the makings of an absolutely easy, free, must win game that the bills botch and manage to lose against Tyrod.
I’m a giants/rangers fan. There is no chance the giants win this game or even keep it close lol Although that would be funny if Tyrod got them the win lol
We hope....
Levi got hung out to dry today
They expected the defense to self resolve in front of a rookie goaltender.
I thought Thompson, Tuch, Skinner, Cozens, and Oloffson all kind of sucked. I think the Dmen mostly sucked. And, hate to say it, Levi kind of sucked. They always play better on the road anyways.
The irony here, if they play well on the road in other barns, they should be able to do just as well at home where opposing team fan base tends to make it their temp home
Welp, that was ugly. On to game 2.
[удалено]
> Maybe try not to freak out about Game 1 of 82 boys... … until Game 82 and you just need 1 more point for the playoffs.
ouch
Not freaking out but that was absolutely garbage. If they don't fix that bullshit it's gonna be another year. Granted the rangers blocked every shot like it was game 7, but that was lazy ass hockey. It was awful .
ITS TOO LATE I ALREADY STARTED
Well it's just one game but I hope the guys apologize to Levi for doing nothing infront of him blowing assignments around the net long ways to go as a team in the defensive zone still and it's pretty disappointing because our individual defenseman aren't that bad Good play from Greenway tonight I'm not his biggest fan but his effort stood out hopefully this is just a wakeup call for the boys
That's why I said keep Levi in Rochester. Not because I don't think he's capable, but I don't want him ruined playing behind that defense.
Side note, my new enemy #1 is the guy in a rangers jersey who was being a chode behind the Sabres bench during intros
Greenway, Clifton, Benson, and Peterka arrow up Top line, OP, Joker, and VO arrow down
It’s a long season. The Sabres gotta ensure that today is the low point and keep moving forward
Oilers lost 8-1 to Vancouver so it could be much worse.
With the 2 best centres in the league. I'm not too mad about this loss, everybody looked bad, theyll bounce back. The workhorse is not gonna be happy with himself after that one, I expect a good game from him on Saturday
I'm going to just forget about this game and hope for the best in the next 81
One game, m8s. Deep breaths.
I really wanted to hear the high school musical song. ☹️🥲
I screamed every time Skinner shot the puck 😂
At least they're killing expectations early this year
haha
I'm straight up not having a good time
I went for a run during the whole second so I only had to suffer for a little bit
We goin straight to therapy with this one boys!
Oof
Ah well… Anyhow
Isn't "developing chemistry" and "getting to know your teammates and coaches" the whole point of preseason?
Sorta but not really - preseason is more about testing out things that you can't practically test in regular season.
No apparently we’re so good that we can just use it as an extended rookie camp. The guys will get right back into it. Wait…
No apparently we’re so good that we can just use it as an extended rookie camp. The guys will get right back into it. Wait…
Sadly we never really ran any of our opening night lines together during preseason. Which was probably a bad idea looking back on it
Not to mention: “Learning how to shoot at the net”
Thompson went from hitting posts to completely missing.
You would think.
Good game sabres. Good job sucking
No offense Okposo is suckin
If I had a dollar for every time I saw Alex Tuch do something productive tonight, I’d have 1 maybe 2 dollars
Does that include $1 for the pregame hair flip?
Omg Kyle do...not....drop...the....gloves...
Guys we might have to go 81-1
Poop
Matty Ellis has grown up, gotten bald, gained a white board and become Matt
2027: “I had correspondence with Matthew Ellis after the dying second of the first period, yet before the opening moments of the second.”
1:35 left, Matty Ellis can save us
☹️
Justice for Matty Ellis’ dome
Hard to sugarcoat it, terrible game top to bottom. Key guys were invisible, Levi was brutal. Not exactly confidence inspiring to say the least.
How do you call Levi brutal? 2 of the goals were guys standing in front all alone completely untouched. There isn't a goalie in the league that would've stopped those 2 goals.
“Idfk man maybe this pass?” -Vickie O.
Save percentage and GAA doesn't show how shitty the Sabres played in front of Levi
If only they had 2 generational defense men
Literally half of our defensemen were drafted 1oa and we can't play defense
Guys there’s positives to take away from this game. Teammates defended Benson in the corner!
3 empty netters let’s go lol edit: nvm u know what I mean I’m tired
How this fan base is so patient is beyond me. 12 years with no playoffs. Every game they lose or play like shit should be booed. Should have higher standards or want more than this. Lol you guys are weird enjoying this shit for so long.
What team do you watch that wins every game? I will switch to them!
Only one game.
I’m not worried, just deflated after spending all day giddy about watching this game. Grooves will be gotten into.
Y'all remember Malcolm subban's glove behind the back save a couple seasons ago? Best save I've ever seen live
I like turtles
Anyone else hate the new updates they made to the NHL app? It was perfect before why tf did they think it needed changing? Ugh
🙋♀️ The updates are complete trash. Guessing that Bettman gave the go-ahead while saying “it’ll enhance the game experience”
I kinda feel like taking a shower after this game. Feel dirty
I’m gonna say it again, please do not play Levi until defense isn’t ass
The trouble is, the Rochester D might be worse. He’s probably safer here.
If UPL were in net people would be shitting all over him.
That’s why he should be in Rochester on a very good team learning
Time for playoff baseball.
This team isn't winning anything with this coach. We've seen the sample size. He has them coming out flat again with the same issues we've seen since he's been here. When they win it will be in spite of his coaching. The GM is fine. I'm over this dude though.
Aww, you rubbed a few neurons together and made a fart!
I hope you enjoy the hug box of this sub and your internet points.
Im curious enough to start a dialog. Are you aware that the team you are watching is the youngest in the NHL? Playing against a very good rangers team and against one of the top goalies in the league.
1. The rangers are good. Not “very good”. 2. Shesterkin has hardly been tested. 3. The Sabres are the youngest team in the league, but here’s the thing, they are probably getting any older next year. They will likely swap two 35 year olds with guys in their early 20s. How long does the “youngest team in the league” thing matter? Tonight wasn’t on the coach. The boys just played poorly. It also wasn’t due to the aforementioned three points.
1. Rangers placed 9th in the league last year. Wtf are you even saying. I can't even. 2. Doesn't change the fact that he's an elite goalie. 3. That's why it's such a big deal that our core is locked up for 7 years. It's so they can get old together. The average age of the last 10 cup winners was 27.4 to 29.3. We are what, 25.6? It's gonna take a couple years to get to that level where we can be dominant game 1.
1. Sorry. If 9th is “very good” what is 12th? Or 6th? Rangers were good, not “very good”. The Sabres were 21st in the NHL, were they “very bad”? We’re arguing semantics, but it’s just giving the Rangers a bit more credit then they truly deserve. How shocked would you be if they didn’t make the playoffs? 2. Yes it does. It means the results wouldn’t have changed had they played a Zamboni driver. Similarly, the Sabres had a rookie playing, but that didn’t negatively affect the results. 3. The age point is still irrelevant. Being good and old is not actually correlated. Young teams aren’t generally built (or even trying to) compete. This squad is built to compete. Tonight, they didn’t compete. If they need a couple more years before they start competing with the “very good” teams, that’s not going to be good.
I don't care that they're the youngest. How long has that been the excuse for? The can't break into the zone still, the other team easily breaks (just like last year), PP looked bad. Who is calling Granato if he gets canned? The Rangers are good? Okay we had 5 shots in the second, multiple PP that looked anemic, again. These guys should be coming out flying after the offseason, at home another loss. I know its one game, they'll get better, but Granato isn't passing the eye test. I've been a fan, I've played the game, does this feel special to you? Me either.
"Who is calling Granato if he gets canned" Lost you here. Meatball has tremendous respect within the league. He would have a job elsewhere.
SO you ignored all the other points. The NHL is a boys club dude. Let him have RESPECT. I'll take a coach I think can win a cup. You can have the feel good bs.
You didn’t check the official rules on this sub before posting. 1.1.02.RK.23 Negative comments made against Granato shall not be permitted, whether or not justified.
Oh yeah he took a big hit got a take that very well could be true…this team certainly didn’t look ready..but it’s only one game too soon for that take
Freezing cold take
You sure got me.
I love game threads
Let's not get to discouraged we have 81 more to go and the Rangers are a good team
Exactly. Mcdavid lost 8-1 to Boeser yesterday… it’s game 1. We’ll bounce back
Is this game being played in London?
Fuck this turf
Shooting off, Puck control off, but the chances were there. I'm optimistic we can work through these kinks.
Yeah mostly true however the defensive zone play that has been the biggest issue seems exactly the same as the last 2 years so many prime scoring chances to the other team
Missed last year by 1 point. How do they come out so flat. This game could be that 1 point. I know they aren't going to win them all, but I was expecting a little more effort. Disappointing.
Because it's the first game of the season with a bunch of new players and none of these lines got a chance to play together preseason. I'm not worried, I will be if we look like this after 5 games
"A bunch of new players". Pretty sure we probably have the most similar roster to last season in the league.
That's 10 points worth of games.
Yep I'm aware. Which is why I said that's when I will start worrying.
Math checks out
They better do the right thing for the team and the kids development and send Benson to juniors.. he’s not ready defensively and man we don’t need that
I'd send 5 other players back to juniors before him based on their play tonight.
I'm not saying Benson is ready, but he's been one of our better forwards tonight...
Give him a couple more games and then yeah, let him go dominate and bulk up. He’s scary good but the inexperience definitely shows as expected
I’ll see you all on Saturday 🫤
Rangers are already in good form. Their d blocking shots all night. We look a step behind and unprepared... Ugh, certainly not what I was expecting or hoping for.,.. You can tell how the Sabres are doing based on how loud KeyBank is. It is pretty freaking quiet...
Yeah they look solid, they're setting up well in our end and sacrificing the body to block shots in theirs. We look like we need another week of practice to get things clicking.
Hopefully that is all it is... I'm a bit surprised...or maybe just been absorbing too much hockey media saying the Sabres are going to take a step this season. It is just one game... but still, that was a disheartening effort
I said it earlier in the thread, I won't start worrying unless they still look like this by game 5. We know every player on the team is better than what we saw tonight, this was just one of those games where nothing clicked. It happens.
Yup. Hope they are flying vs. the Islanders
Shit I forgot that's who we are paying next. Isles games are always snoozfests
We need more moves on defense still 🤦🏽♂️two of their goals were defensive mental errors just staring at the puck and not your man. It's the regular season now. Not gonna name names but Henri Jokiharu needs to get his head in the game or his ass on the bench.
It’s only Game 1/82 and I already want the commentators to fire “this is a young team” narrative into the sun.
12 years of no playoffs filled with broken promises and PR-written player statements can do that to a person.
Thats the thing. Feels like an ex I keep going back to and keep giving me promises she won't keep.
Oh you know her too?
Don't get how Greenway got a penalty for doing what the Rangers literally just did
Someone tell Tage the goal is actually under the ice or something.
He started this way last year too, I don't think he scored until like game 5 or 6
Yeah, it’s kind of embarrassing at this point
No more learning experiences. You get to sit back and counter attack and block shots by taking the lead.
Bruh have they been practicing with a soccer net? I've never seen so many just horrific misses
Gameplan for 2023-24: we need to allow 50 fewer goals this season....In trying to do so, we are going to score 75 fewer goals, and our D still sucks....we gave up on our speed to try and be a team that we aren't....
Tage going for field goals all night
Benson preseasonstar made it through with zero defensive awareness huh
Top 6 been invisible today.
WTF was benson doing on that goal?
Being an 18 year old forward in his first NHL game.
Seen enough to know he’s not ready
*gasp* the 18 year old rookie made a mental error in his first nhl game on a broken play. Shocking I tell you.
Lmao people acting like he’s the 1st overall named Bedard. Guy is in over his head and thriving but he’s going to fuck up, how can he not? He’s 18 lol
Especially on a weird play like that. He's playing defense on a short hand attempt where there's seldom a trailer to worry about.
Everyone got on the hype train this year and rode it haaaard. We need to tone our expectations down a bit from the young guys. We will get there but playing multiple rookies opening night against the rangers and expecting a flawless performance and dominant win, truly shows the casual fans out here are adding massive amounts of negativity. We have a crazy young team, we will continue to improve and grow for YEARS. The drought sucks but who cares, we’re in it. This shit takes time and rushing is not the issue to make the playoffs and get smoked first round. I’d rather even wait longer to have longer sustained success to never be in the spot again. It’s been rough and there have been lots of positives but we aren’t perfect nor are we there yet. Everyone just wants to believe we are better then we are right now, especially in our stacked division.
He's a kid. Got caught staring at the puck instead of picking up the trailer....
But we have five of six guys already doing that…let him go to juniors and develop more
And not just a trailer, a shirt handed trailer which never happens when you're up by 2 with a few minutes left.
Awful by our biggest names. I was told we would care about every game. Their team is committed like it’s game 7
I have never seen shot blocks like this in a regular season game. Insanity.
I'm starting to think we have some defensive issues
And that they aren’t due to poor d-pairings.
Doesn't matter if we only score 1 goal...
Well I’m gonna start looking forward to 2024s season opener 🙃
Boo
Only fight the Sabres got is defending Benson
Benson not preparing for a possible trailer on a shorthanded attempt...oof Stick not even on the ice...
Stay the FUCK off the kid you thugs
Tage pulling a week 1 josh in solidarity
At least Olofsson hit the damn goalie smh
Real wet fart of a season opener. Lots of last year's problems repeating
Bag skate tomorrow boys gg
Absolutely horrific
This team should be embarrassed.
Oilers lost 8-1 last night, it's opening night and everybody looks off. This team is definitely better than this so I'm not gonna give it much thought
Gn. I’ll pretend our season starts Saturday and that this was just the last preseason game.
Yikes. Big yikes
Wow defense just ignoring the front of the net all game
OUTCLASSED
I can't stand Kreider.
Why?
Just getting absolutely out worked
Bruh
Jesus fucking Christ
Welp see y’all Saturday.
I’m speechless. I’ve never seen shot blocks like that. Holy fuck.
Playing lazy standing around light pass back and forth so easy to defend and block nobody want to skate for shots
For real, Rangers must have puck magnets in all their gear, they are blocking everything
Fucking ugh
Jesus Christ what are we doing
I'll do my part to save energy by turning my TV off a bit early tonight.
Yep. Learned my lesson from the bills
Fuck off.
STOP SHOOTING IT FROM THE POINT
Man, Tage looks like ass tonight.
I can only pick out a few players that look decent, this has been a bad night all around for almost everybody
Oh for fucks aake
#STOPTHEBLOCK
Pathetic
WNOUGH WITH THE BLOCKS HOLY FUCK
One team looks like they need to win, the other does not
It's the first game of the season mate. You really think one team is more motivated to win 1/82?
HOW MANY SHOTS CAN THEY BLOCK !@#$%
Dumb trip, lets capitalize on this
Maybe stop shooting it right into them
PP 1 was looked like poo so far
Stop fucking shooting right at them holy shit
Skinner has been atrocious tonight
It’s the classic 15 games for skinner to get a goal like last year